Line configuration

1. Line Configuration
Line configuration refers to the way two or more communication devices attached to a link. Line
configuration is also referred to as connection. A Link is the physical communication pathway
that transfers data from one device to another. For communication to occur, two devices must be
connected in same way to the same link at the same time.
There are two possible line configurations.
1. Point-to-Point.
2. Multipoint.

Point-to-Point
A Point to Point Line Configuration Provide dedicated link between two devices use actual
length of wire or cable to connect the two end including microwave & satellite link. Infrared
remote control & tvs remote control.
The entire capacity of the channel is reserved for transmission between those two devices. Most
point-to-point line configurations use an actual length of wire or cable to connect the two ends,
but other options, such as microwave or satellite links, are also possible.
Point to point network topology is considered to be one of the easiest and most conventional
network topologies. It is also the simplest to establish and understand. To visualize, one can
consider point to point network topology as two phones connected end to end for a two way
communication




Multipoint Configuration
Multipoint Configuration also known as Multidrop line configurationone or more than
two specific devices share a single link capacity of the channel is shared.

More than two devices share the Link that is the capacity of the channel is shared now. With
shared capacity, there can be two possibilities in a Multipoint Line Config:

2. Spatial Sharing: If several devices can share the link simultaneously, its called Spatially
shared line configuration
Temporal (Time) Sharing: If users must take turns using the link , then its called
Temporally shared or Time Shared Line Configuration